Determine the reasons for nonadherence to follow-up in Hispanic women with abnormal Pap smear findings.

Assess the effect of written educational information and phone calls on follow-up rate in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a pilot, cross-sectional, controlled, multicenter study. Patients are sequentially assigned to 1 of 3 intervention groups.

Group 1 (control): Patients complete a standardized Spanish survey questionnaire, assessing their demographic information, knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, experiences with cervical screening, past medical history, and prior treatment, either in person (for those who kept their colposcopy appointment) or over the telephone (for those who did not keep their colposcopy appointment). Additional questions are added for patients who did not keep their colposcopy appointment to test for differences and to learn the reasons for not keeping their appointment.

Group 2 (written educational information): Patients receive notification of their colposcopy appointment and an educational letter about Pap smears, cervical cancer risk, and the purpose and procedure of colposcopy. They complete the standardized Spanish survey questionnaire as in group 1.

Group 3 (phone call): Patients receive notification of their colposcopy appointment and a personal telephone call educating them about Pap smears, cervical cancer risk, and the purpose and procedure of colposcopy. They complete the standardized Spanish survey questionnaire as in group 1.

All patients are asked to agree to submit residual Pap smear fluid to the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University tumor bank, and be included in a tracking system to insure future follow-up communications.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 70 Years

Genders Eligible for Study:

Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Abnormal Pap smear findings indicating the need for further treatment at the colposcopy clinic

Scheduled for colposcopy at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University

No history of invasive cervical cancer

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Must be of Hispanic background, including any of the following:

Hispanic

Latino

Chicano

Mexican American

Puerto Rican

Cuban American

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Not specified

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00483288